Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that Tennessee is one of 16 finalists in the first round of the federal government’s Race to the Top competition, which will award $4.35 billion in competitive grants designed to encourage and reward states that are pursuing education innovation.

More...

RELATED: State Senate Dems react:

Senate Democrats led the passage of the Tennessee First to the Top Act during a special legislative session in January. Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle (D-Memphis) sponsored the bill, and Sen. Finney and Sen. Andy Berke (D-Chattanooga) co-sponsored an amendment to create the Teacher Professional Development Fund, the first of its kind in the state.

"Given the cooperation between the teachers and the legislature, the leadership of Governor Bredesen and the significant changes we made to our education laws, I would have been surprised if we had not been named a finalist," Kyle said. "I’m very optimistic we will be named a winner."